The Briarwood Academy junior varsity "played football the way it's supposed to be played" in their 28-16 win over GISA AAA John Milledge Academy Thursday in Milledgeville.

"All in all, it was the most satisfying game we've played, because everything we did, we did well," Coach Kenny Haney said. "I couldn't have been any prouder of them. We played football the way it's supposed to be played."

The JV Bucs took control of the game early, mainly courtesy of eighth grade running back Matthew McElveen. McElveen set up his first touchdown on about a 38-yard punt return from midfield to Milledge's 12-yard line. Two plays later, he scored the Bucs' first TD on a seven yard run. Cody Ewest kicked his first of four PAT's for the game. Later in the first quarter, McElveen scored his second TD on a 60-yard reverse around the right end. Again, Ewest kicked the PAT for a 14-0 first quarter lead.

Second quarter mistakes prevented the Bucs from scoring again before the half, but Milledge scored late in the second quarter on an 80-yard pass interception, stopping the Bucs' final scoring drive before the half. Milledge added a two point PAT to go in down by only six, 14-8, at the half.

The Bucs scored early in the third on a drive that began on their own 30-yard line. The Bucs drove to Milledge's 20-yard line behind the running of Ewest and McElveen with Jackson Lyons scoring on a 20-yard TD catch from quarterback Garrett Mohr. Ewest kicked the extra point for a 21-8 lead early in the third. McElveen scored the Bucs' final TD late in the third on a 50-yard punt return aided by two "seriously nice blocks" by Ewest and Ryan Nelson. Ewest kicked his fourth and final extra point of the game.

Milledge scored their final TD late in the fourth quarter.

The Bucs scored again in the fifth quarter (for the younger players) on a 50-yard pass from sixth grader Blake Sowell to sixth grader Rhett Hinesley. Hinesley caught the ball on the right hash mark and angled downfield, outrunning Milledge's defenders to score on the left hash mark.

Quarterback Garrett Mohr was four-for-six passing with one 20-yard catch by Lyons and two catches for 40 yards by Trey Stadler.

McElveen led the offense, rushing eight times for about 100 yards. Ewest had about 65 yards on five carries while Michael Kent carried the ball twice for 27 yards.

Now 2-1-1 for the season, the JV Bucs will host Thomas Jefferson Academy of Louisville, at 6 p.m. next Thursday at Briarwood.